Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-17

tinuing the school hoard was, We understand,
| framed by ex-governor Clafiin OF Massachusetts
and also %smSer Of the ncuss District Commit
tee IN adopting language 20 define the powers
referred To, and WAS partially inspired by. the
school law OF the principal city OF his own state
and with the practical administration OF which ne
\ Ind enjoyed an extended experience. We beg
leave therefore to tote enough OF the Boston law
70 show that the management OF the public schools
'srbe scaooi Committee consisting OF twenty. tour
members, elected oy the people sections one,
six. seven and eight confer powers
"sEc 8. The school committee shall have the
supervision and direction OF the public schools,
and shall exercise the powers and perform the
duties In re, alton to the care and management Of
the school committee Of SAID city, aaS ar
as they may be changed or modified by this act,
and shall have the powers and discharge the
| duties which may hereafter be imposed BY law
| upon the school committee Of cities and towns.
They may elect 7 achers, and may discharge
elected. They shall appoint tanitors for the
| schOOl-houses, fix their compensation designate
their duties, and may discharge them at pleasure.
| the salaries established at the commencement OF
each year shall not be increased during such year.
'SEC. 2. The school committee shall elect the
superinteL oent OF schools, and board Of super
| visors Consisting OF not more than six members,
and shall define their duties and FIX their COM
4
supervisors shall hold of1ice for the term OF two
/ years. unless sooner removed, and they may be re-
moved for cause at any time by the school COM
mtttee.
ssC 8. The votes of a majority Of the school
committee shall be necessary to elect the superin-
| tendent OF schools the supervisors, the head
masters OF the Latin and High school, the masters
| or the Grammar schools or the director OF q
| special study or exercise.
"SEC 6. whenever In the judgment OF The school
/ committee new building, or any addition to or
alteration OF building, IS needed for school pur
4 Of n m a~rt m fnd nf nuar M
| shall make statement In writing 10 the city
council OF the necessity OF the proposed building.
addition, or alteration, and no contract for the
purchase or lease OF lands or for the erection pur
chase or lease OF any building, Tor any addition
10 or alteration OF any building for school pur-
poses shall be authorized by the city council until
/ the locality and plans for the same have been APP
! proved by the school committee, or by subcoln-
mtttee thereof. duly authorized TO approve the
| same"
In New York city the schools are managed by a
| general board OF twenty-iour m mbers appointed
| executive control OF the schools and also a very
large authority In all matters relating to sch oil
| property, not being dependent on any municipal
body either Tor the purchase OF sites or the cree
ton OF school-bouses. This general board also ap-
points the local boards OF which there are large
| number.
In Philadelphia, like New York, there is general
board and local boards, the members OF the gen.
erai board being appointed by the judges OF the
| boards being elected by the people. Tn. powers
OF the general board are shared In part by the To-
sad but u tqgener tney manage the pr6e
twenty-six members chosen by the people, and
this board. In addition TO the executive manage
ment of the Schools is entrusted with their entire
financial management. In Chicago there is a
school board OF nfteen members, appointed by the
city council. who, in addition to executive control
| build all the school houses. The sites are
natl the school board consists Of My cs7D
usual powers In Louisville the school board
consists Of twenty-slX members, chosen by the
people, and has the usual powers In Balti-
more the school board consists OF - members
In Buffalo the school authority Is said to be
| merely special committee OF the city council
and this is the only city, far as have learned
where the school board is mixed up with the poll
teal authorities, but even here the management
appears tobe by separate board, thou I'll composed
or members OF the city council. Cleveland having
about the same population as the District OF Co.
lumoia, has school board OF eighteen members
ana W NOR , Mass with population S6ou,
of twenty-five members. Without further men
ton OF individual cities, we may summarize the
powers OF school boards tor cities In the United
states as including all that relates 10 instruction,
and in most clies very considerable control over
expenditures for school purposes.
As stated In the circular OF the Bureau OF Educa-
ton No. j, 1885,
| "They nave power to certificate, elect and dis
miss teachers, and generally to fix heir compensa-
! ton; they determine the grading and courses OF
study or The schools and prescribe the text books
10 be used They make the regulations for admis-
sion or pupils TO the different grades Of schools,
Tor promotion from one class TO another and for
graduation, but are not empowered either TO es-
tabilsh schools or provide for instruction not
| authorized by law: neither have they the custody
and disbursement or the school moneys"
In the last published report of the Bureau Of
Education, 1SS4-5, pages ZIG ct seq, is list Of
Two hundred and two cities, showing how SUPER
intendents OF instruction are appointed. In one
pointment is made by the city school boards; In
nye by State boards OF education; in two by
boards OF visitors; In ten by popular election and
In seven only by political authorities. The Dis
trlct OF Columbia Is OF the latter class.
CONCLUSION.
After careful and extended Investigation OF this
general subject OF the proper system OF managing
our public schools, your committee are ropinion
that the exclusive executive control OF schools
and OF all Observation-Disclosures Incident TO the
duct thereof, should be lodged with board OF
that such board should be sufficiently numerous
to insure such detailed performance OF Inspection
and other duties as will practically and not theo-
retically cover the entire District. Any supaviS-
ing authority to De exercised by the Di trct Com
missioners should be through their power OF APP
pOintment and removal Of the several trustees;
and, SO AS not to disturb the general system OF
mOnted accountability provided by Congress for
the District, the custody and disbursement Of all
mOnies should be left in their exclusive control But
the executive management OF the schools should
be dis ociated from political authority and Its
entrusted to the people, who Share the ex.
penses thereof with the General Government,
and whose children are to be educated therein.
In this way alone can the schools for any ex-
tended period retain their hold upon the support
OF the general body OF our citizens without whose
well-sustained interest and confidence their long
continued prosperity and success Will be imp0s-
sible. And, In order to exercise independent
functions with any practical effect, such board
must be invested with exclusive control over oil
the subordinate agencies and instrumentalities
which necessarily enter into and make Up q CON-
plete public school system.
The accompanying bill Is accordingly submitted
with the recommendation that an executive CON-
mittee be appointed by you to present the same TO
Congress and to urge Its enactment into a law.
ROBERT REYBURN, NJ d., chairman and delegate
from Citizens Association No. 6.
w. SCOTT SMITH, secretary and delegate from
Citizens Association No. 3.
A. r. BRITToN, delegate from Citizens Associa-
ton No. s.
A. GREENLEEs. delegate from Citizens Associa-
ton No. T.
W. Il. A: woRxLEY, delegate from Citizens As
ISOLATION No. q.
GEORGE WHITE, delegate from Citizens Associa-
ton No. l.
7. sroBo FARKow. delegate from Citizens Asso-
cia' ion No. 2.
CnAs. E. HovEY, delegate from Citizens Asso-
citation No. 4.
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOLS.
THE BILL PROPOSED
The form OF the bill submitted With the report is
emitted "A bill to create Board OF Education for
the District OF Columbia, and to prescribe its
powers and duties" and Is as follows: "That upon
the passage OF this act the Commissioners OF the
District OF Columbia shall appoint three persons
from and residents in each OF The eight extsttn0
Gnh lrf-t nff hn